Air-regulator for radiators



1. n/IFEDDERS.v AIR REGULATOR FOR RADIATORS.

AFPLiCAfION FILED JULY 5.19MB'` menta@ Feb. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

den fw J' lVI. FEDDERS.

AIR REGULATOR FOR RADIATORS.

APPLicATIoN HLLD JULY 5.1919.

1,367,031, y Patentedlvemgsazl.

3 SHEETSMSHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

JOHN M. rRDDERs, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, Ass-IONOR To FEDDERS MANOFACTUR- Imi COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YoRx, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AIR-REGULATOR FOR Specification of Letters Patent.

e Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application tiled .Tilly 5,1919. Serial'N. 308,728.

To allwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN M. FEDDERS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Regulators for Radiators, of which thevfollowing-is a specification. l i

This invention relates toa shutter for rcontrolling the amount of air whichcan dpass through the'air passages of an: automobile rafdmtor for the purpose o f regulating the cooling eiciency of the radiator in accordance with the temperature of the outer air or other conditions.

The devices heretofore used Yfor this purpose "were `so constructed that they were either.complicated and'un'- sightly and interfered with obtaining the `maximum cooling efficiency when this was required, and they were also so constructed as to completely cover Iand render inopera tive one part of the radiator whileanother part thereof wafs- `completely uncovered which jis objectionable because in cold weather the uncovered Vpart of the radiator throu h which air was permitted to pass would!)r often freeze up while the covered part would often generate steam and thereby expose the radiator to the .danger of being blown up.

It is the object of this invention to prolvide an air controlling or regulating device for radiators which can be applied to the radiator without detracting fromits ornamentalappearance while in use, which permits of varying the amount of air which passes through the several air passages so that the same is distributed uniformly among the several passages and thereby avoid freezing` the water in some parts of the radiator and generating steam in others, and which is comparatively. simple in construction, capable of being produced at comparatively'small cost and readily applicable .to the various types'of automobile radiators now in general use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automobile radiator equipped with my invention. Fig; 2 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section of a radiator embodying my invention, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken through the lnclosing casing in front of the radiator core and the aircontrollingf mechanism and the. shutter ofthe latter being shifted intoa position inv 'whichthe same uncovers nearly all of thejair tubes or passages. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectionv taken online 3 3-, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is afragmentary yer- 'tical longitudinal section showing the means for adjusting the shutterof the air regulator or controller from the dashboard of an automobile. i Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing part Ofsuitable meansA for Operating the working parts of the air regulator or shutter. Fig.'6 1s a plan view,on a reduced scale, of the shutter or regulating screen formig' part of myl invention. Y A' the following description, similar characters of reference refer to like partvsin the'several figures of the drawings. i

The radiator to which my invention is applicablemay be of any suitable construction and similar to those now'in general use andl well-known, and the one shown'in the drawings may therefore be merelyregarded as typical of one suitable for use in connection with my invention. As there shown, this radiator comprises a core which is constructed to Aform a plurality ofwater passages extending from an upper water 'box or header 11 to a lower water box or header 12, and a plurality of horizontal air tubes or passages 13 extending from the front side to the rear side of the radiator, a water filler 14 arranged on top of the upper water box and an inclosingcas'ing or shell 15 arranged around the core and water boxes, so as to give the same a finis-hed appearance and constructed in the form of a fra-me which leaves the front and rear ends of the air passages or tubes exposed so that the air'can enter the front ends of these tubes and leave the same at the rear ends thereof. In common with other types of l radiators the water to be cooled is conducted to one of these water boxes and discharged from the other by pipes or conduits 16, 17, and in passing through the Water "passages which connect with these Water boxes the water is cooled by the air passing through Vthe air tubes.-

` v The preferred embodiment of the air regulating' or controlling device which contains my invention is constructed as follows:

18 represents a shutter which is referably constructed in the form of a exible 'shifting the curtain so as to bring one of,v its lsections across the front ends of the air tubes the' entrance of air to these tubes and the cooling eiiic'iency. of the same may be reduced accordingly by reason of the ob,

struction to the air by the vscreen.. It is therefore possible by shifting different portions or sections of the curtain across the air path of the radiator to vary the amount of air whichcan pass through the radiator and i I. exert a cooling effect upon the water, the

amount of air which can thus pass the radiator being reduced to -a moderate extentwhen a comparatively coarse section of the curtain is arranged acrossthe air tubeswhile a correspondingly 'greater relso duction in the amount of air passmg through the radiator is `effected when a section of the curtain having a finer mesh is extended across the frgnt ends of the air tubes'.v In its `preferred form this curtain is constructed of woven wire or similar fabric so as to form three sections of different sizes of meshes, the first section 19 having a size of mesh which' is comparatively coarse, the

i second or intermediate section 20 having its meshes of a size about half the capacity of those of the first section and the last section 21 having its meshes about half .the size or capacity of those of the intermediate section. The material from which thiscurtain isA woven consists preferably of flexible metal wire such as copper which is coated with enamel vso as to increase its thickness somewhat and form an effective obstruction to the air. It is to be understood, however, that this curtain may be constructed in any other suitable manner so as to form a foraminous body for obstructing the passage of the air and that a greater or lesser number of sections Having different sizes of meshes may be employed, if desired for varying the degree `of obstruction to the passage of the air between one section and another.

The several sections 4of the regulatingcur- Ytain are arranged in a longitudinal row one after another so as t'o form practically a continuous curtain and thesame are preferably moved vertically for successively extending the same across the front ends of the air tube. In order to accomplish this in a com;

pact mannerwithout carrying the shutter device beyond' the circumference or area. of

the radiator, the lower end of the curtain is secured to and adapted to be wound upon a lower winding shaft or drum 22 while the upper end of the curtain is attached to and adapted to be wound upon anupper winding shaft or drum 23, so that upon Winding the curtain upon one of these shafts and unticularsection of the curtain may be brought into its operative position across the inlet ends of the several air tubes. In order to ermitof leaving the air tubes entirely unobstructed, one end of this curtain, for instance, that end thereof having the largest mesh, is connected at its opposite longitudinal edges with itslrespectivewinding shaft by means of winding lines 24 which in effect form part of the curtain and are'arranged at opposite vertical edges of the core while the opposite end of the curtain, which in this case isthe finest mesh section, is secured directly to the res ective winding shaft.` In

the organization s own in the drawings, the

` winding the same from the other, any par-Y coarse section of the curtainare arranged on the upper lpart' thereof while ,the fine mesh section is arranged atl the lower end thereof but it is to be understood that this relation 4may bevaried and that the relative arrangement of the different sections of the curtain may be otherwise disposed, if desired. 'y

Any suitable means may be provided for operating the winding shafts so that the regulatingV curtain maybe wound either upon one of these shafts or upon the other for the purpose of bringing a particular section ,of the curtain acrossy the air tubes.k The means vwhich are shown in the drawings, as an 'example of one suitable for this purpose, comprises an upright intermediate shaft 27 arranged adjacent to one of the vertical sides ofrtheradiator and journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings on the re` spective upper land lower. brackets -25, 26, and two pairs of intermeshing gear wheels 28, 29, connecting'the opposite'ends of the` intermediate shaft with f the adjacent ends of the upper and. lower winding shafts. Bv means of this construction, the upper and lower winding shafts are caused to turn in unison so that as the curtain is wound upon one of the winding shafts the same unwinds in the same measure from the other winding shaft. y

In order to permit of conveniently adjusting this curtain from apoint adjacent to the drivers Seaton theautomobile and thus avoid the 25 while its rear end is journaled in a'bearthe `adjusting driver can shlft the curtain for bringing any ing 32 on the dash board 33.l The rear end of this shaft is` provided behind the dash board with 'a hand wheel 35 or other suitable contrivance for turning the same and vits front end is operatively connected with that end of the upper Winding shaft oppoj site to the gearing 28, 29, by means of a pair of intermeshing gear wheels 36; 37,.s"ecured respectively to the Aupper winding shaftand shaft. By this means the section .of the same across the air tubes without leaving the seat which is particularly desirable during inclement weather.

` Although any suitable, form of gearing may be employed for connecting the upright shaft with the winding shafts and the a justing shaft .with one of the winding shafts, it is preferable to employthe form of gearing., which is shownin Figs. 2, 3,4 and 5, in which case one of the gear `wheels is provided with an annular row of radial teeth-38 which engagewith anannular row of openings in the companion gear wheel, this construction being very-A simple and work. l

It will 'be -apparent that by these means Acompact and Well suited for this particular `of regulating 4the amount of air which can pass through the core of the radiator that the cooling effect of the same can be easily and quickly adjusted to suit the requirements .under different temperature conditions. Furthermore, distributing the air uniformly over the entire radiator, so that the entirejcooling surface of the same is operative at all times and all parts of the same perform alike share of the work in cooling the watbr regardless of whether a large or small volume of air is permitted to pass through the radiator under different temperaturesthereby avoiding irregular operation of the radiator and preventing excessive cooling o'r freezing of the water in one part of the radiator and excessive heating or steaming 'of the water in another part thereof. Moreover. this manner of controlling the supply of air to the radia tor permits not only of leaving theentire radiating surface unobstructed when the maximum cooling effect is desired during hot weather, but it also preserves the lornamental appearance of the radiator over its entire front when the controlling or regulating device is in operation, by reason of the fact that the screen like curtain when extending across the front ends of the tubes is at its front endin a suitable these means perr'nit ofy shafts upon either of almost invisible when in use and "permits of observing the latter nearly' as well as if no screen' were present.'

-I claimas my invention:

-1. The combination of a radiator pro-.1AV

'.70 and a screen having a plurality of sections vided With water passages and air passages,

4the meshes of each section being different in size from another .section, and said screen being movable for bringing each of its sec- .tions across saidair passages.

2. The combination of a' radiator 'provided with water passages and air passages, a screen having a plurality of sections the U meshes of each section-being diferent in size from another section and said screen being movable for bringing each of its sections across said air passages, and means for winding'and unwinding saidscreen at opposite ends thereof.

3. The combination of 'a radiator provided With water passages and airv passages, a screen having a plurality of sections the meshes of 'each vsection being different in size from another section and said screen being -movable for bringing each of its sections across said air passages, and two winding shafts upon either of which said screen 'may be Wound from opposite ends thereof. 'A

4. The combination 0f a radiator provided With water passages and air passages, a screen having a plurality oflsections the meshes of`each section being size from another section and being movable for bringing each-of. ,its sections across said airfpassages, two winding shafts with oneof which .one end of .said screen Ais connected directly, and `Winding lines connecting the other end of said screen with the other winding shaft. l

The combination of a radiator provided with water a screen having a pluralitv of sections the meshes of each section being different in size from another section and said screenl -Ibeing movable for bringing each of its sections across said air passages, two Winding which said screen may be wound from opposite ends4 thereof, and means' for causing said shafts to turnin unison.

6.4 The combination of vided with Water passages and air passages, ascreen having a plurality of A`sections the meshes of each section being different in size from anothersection and saidv screen being movable for bringinsnr each of its sections across said air Yiassages, two' vwinding shafts upon either of which said screen may -be Wound from opposite ends thereof, and means for causing said shafts to turn in unison comprising an intermediate shaft, and gearing connecting said intermediate shaft with said winding shafts.

different in i saidscreen ioo passages and air passages,

v a radiator' pro` '7. The Scombination of a radiator provided Wlth Water' passages and a1r passages, a screen having a pl'urallty of sectlons the meshes of each section being difierentin'` size from anothensection and said screen being movable for bringing eachof its sections across said air passages,- and means for operating said screen from a distance.l A

8. The combination of a radiator provided withwater passages and air passages, a-screenhaving a plurality of sections the meshes of each section being different in size i'from another section and said screen being. movable for bringingv each'jof itssec-` tions across said air passages, two Winding shafts upon either of Whlch said screen 'may be wound from opposite ends thereof, and

means for operating-` Said winding shafts from a distance. .f

9. The combination of a radiatorv provided with Water passages and air passages, a screen having a plurality of sections the meshes of eachV section being vdifferent in size from another section and said screen being movable for bringing each of its sections across said air passages, two Winding shafts upon either of which said screen may bewound. from opposite ends thereof, an

adjusting shaft, a handle connected with one end of said adjusting shaft, and gearing connecting the other end of saidadjusting shaft/With one of said-Winding shafts.

t. JOHN FEDDERS. 

